The main upgrade came in the form of their intelligence. By combining an advanced actual intelligence program, with a Forerunner battle A.I. you get a mecha that is truly a thinking machine capable of learning, and advancing itself with limited to no pilot interaction. When they first came online they both devoured the stations internal data core. They scanned and copied all files they found, then they used the station itself to access the galactic net and learn all about the galaxy, and everything going on within it. They gorged on data from all the factions as well as the independent systems. If it was out there to be accessed they accessed it.
Then having finished their information buffet, they turned and scanned each other. They analyzed every minute detail of each other, before turning to the control station observatory deck and addressing the occupants directly.
As one they said, "When do we fight?"
Gates were charged up, a planet was decided on off on one of the outer territories, and the two were sent off to do battle. There was a small pirate base on the moon they were sent to. It lasted about 10 seconds. The mechas came through the gate, headed into the crater system where the camp was located, and just vaporized it. No one knew what had happened. The dorms were targeted along with the mecha hangers, and the mayhem began.Winter's Grasp, Flavian Spears, and Sikuliq's demolished the dorms, while Omen Barrels, T-10 Tsunami, and Arbalest missile systems out right destroyed or severely damaged all mechas in the hangers. First the base was there, then it was wiped off the face off the moon.
The mechas then turned to regard each other. Something passed between them, a recognition of sorts of how alike they were, yet at the same time so vastly different. That was when the rivalry between them was born. They stepped back from one another and took on offensive stances.
Darkstar fired first, MAK - 47's rang out as the Anubis fired on the Boreas. Knowing it had to get to minimal range for its primary weapon systems to be of any real value, Darkstar was in a firing retreat action, trying to gain distance. Northstar took the first few hits before responding back with it's Sikuliq cannons. Back and forth they fired hitting with accuracy that which would have crit-killed lesser mechas, but because of their size and armor merely annoyed them further.
Darkstar gained his minimal optimized distance and unleashed his Omen Barrels. They made small thunderclaps as they broke the sound barrier while leaving the Anubis mechas unstable matter field created by its unstable matter engines. They went screaming towards the Boreas, who could only calculate a multitude of varying incoming trajectories so fast. He picked a few from his still going calculations and moved accordingly. Most of the decisions were right. Northstar was able to move out of the way of the worst damage and blasts. However even the missiles that did find their mark dropped its shielding instantly.
In retaliation Winter's Grasp cannons were charged and set loose upon Darkstar. With each hit the Anubis was coated with a fine frost that slowed it's movements, and eventually began to freeze it up. The Boreas just kept pouring it on, almost creating an ice sculpture out of its opponent. The Anubis seemed done for all that was left unencumbered by ice was the back mounted missile launcher tube tops. But those turned out to be its salvation.
Arbalest missiles launched out of those tubes, arching straight towards the Boreas. There was no time to react. The missiles took the Boreas off its feet when they impacted. A small crater was made from the force of the blow itself, as well as a falling 95 ton mecha.
The Anubis gave a shudder and broke free from its icy tomb. The unstable matter engines has made the ice less dense and easier to break out of. It launched Metal Mambas, and Magnet Missiles, which centered in on the downed mecha and went shrieking to the kill. Most found their mark easily as the Boreas was a rather large target. Metal was ripped, explosions went off, pieces of moon were blown away, yet the Anubis kept firing.
Finally having used almost all of its ammunition reserves on its opponent it stopped. Darkstar advanced on the smoking crater reengaging its MAKs for close range combat. It leaned over the edge of the crater so it could initialize a scan. That's when a full bank of Arbitrators went off catching the Anubis in its face/cockpit area. there was no time to react or return fire. The "head" was blown open and the Anubis fell forward on its fast fading but still barely active opponent.
A rescue and clean up crew was dispatched to retrieve the two mechas. Months of repair work went into making them functional again. The hybrid intelligence was once again uploaded, and they were put on the market at a marked up price. Which is where I got a hold of them.
As a collector of unique mechas I just had to have them. They serve in the same formation now. As far as I am able to discern they still hate each other, but they respect one another in a way. As long as that respect lasts they will fight together, the second that goes they will fight again. This time however it will be the last fight one of them ever will have.
Submitted by Pat Willis#224534